Ruling attachment for type-writing machines.



l. Ni. DUDLET( RULTNG ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITING APPLITCATION FILED MAY24. 1917.

Patented NoT/z 2G, 191;?.

@mm1/W60@ J. FELD/mib? (21% WLM/Two JAMES M. DUDLEY, OF BIRMINGHAM,ALABAMA.

RULING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2id, i917.

Application led May 24, 1917. Serial No. 170,699.

residing at Birmingham, in the county of` Jefferson and State ofAlabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RulingAttachments for Type- Writing Machines, of which the following-I is aspecification.

My invention relates to aruling attachment for typewriting machines.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and comparativelyinexpensive ruling device which can be conveniently applied as anattachment to typewriters of various designs and which carries its ownribbon that is -of the same character as the ribbon of the typewriter sothat the line when ruled thereby has the same appearance as if theattachment had coperated with the ribbon of the typewriter itself.

A further object of my invention is to `ladapt the device toautomatically feed its ribbon during the ruling operation so that theline produced will be equally distinct throughout its whole length.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel guide means forthe ribbon which is capable of an adjustment so as to shift the ribbon,thereby making the whole y surface thereof available for use in therul-V ing operation.

These and other objects of my invention are shown in an illustrativeembodiment of my invention appearing in the accompanyingvdrawings,wherein- Figure 1 shows my invention in elevation applied to an Olivertypewriter and disposed in ruling position.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the apparatus v with the ribbon shown indotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the lines 3*-3 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the'lines 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

While I have illustrated my invention as applied to an Olivertypewriter, it will be understood that it can be readily adapted toother makes of typewriting machines. The

typewriting machine 1 is generally indi-- cated in dotted lines and isprovided with the customary yoke attachment 2 which at its upper endcarries a socket 3 in which a set screw 4 works. This socket, in thepresent practice, is adapted to receive a pencil or fountain pen as theruling medium. In my present invention however the socket is adapted toreceive the shank 5 of a bent metal bar 6 which forms the main frame ofthe ruling attachment. This bar at its lower endis provided with a yoke7 in which a roller 8 is pivotally mounted on an axis!) and in thecenter of this roller is a sharp circumferential shoulder forming theruling edge 10. The yoke at one side is connected to a portion 11 of therod which is inclined at an angle of about 45 to the axis 9. Thisportion 11 joins the main body 6 of the bar which lies at right anglesto the axis 9 and at its other end is connected by a bent portion 12with the shank 5, the axis of which lies in a plane with the ruling edge10. A pin 13 is mounted on a slide 14 which works on the main bodyportion 6 and lis held in adjusted position thereon by a Vset screw 15.This pin stands parallel with the axis 9 and forms a guide for the`endless ribbon 16 which runs over the pin andfthe roller 8' as shown inFigs. 2 and 4.

y In order to shift the ribbon I provide a bent metal strap 17 which isclamped about the portion 11 of theframe by a rivet 18 and left justloose enough to be capable of adjustment along this portion 11. One end19 of the strap is bent outwardly at right angles to the other side 2Oof the strap which projects beyond the ribbon and has its outer end 21bent in the opposite direction to' 19. Thus, as seen in Fig. 3, theportion-19 will engage the near side of one flight of the ribbon whilethe part 21 will engage the far sideof the other Hight of the ribbon.Both flights of the ribbon are thus engaged and as the strap is adjustedalong the inclined portion 11 it will travel from full to dotted lineposition, as seen in Fig. 2, and' thus shift with it the ribbon topresent a different surface under the ruling edge 10.

In operation, having assembled and mounted the ruling device in themanner described, the yoke 2 is swung down until the ruling edge engagesthe platen 22 of the typewriter, it being noted that they frame is sobent that this edge will engage the platen in thesame place where thetype will strike it, thus enabling me to start the ruling at exactly thepointdesired. While pressing the device down against the platen thelatter is shifted which the ruling edge 10 will act through the ribbonto rule a distinct clear line on the paper 23, which line will have thesame appearance as the body of typewritten matter on the sheet, Vdue tothe fact that it is made from a ribbon of the same character as thatemployed on the typewriter. As the ribbon stretches or gives it can bemaintained at the desired tension by shifting the guide pin 13 along theframe. The best results are obtained when the ribbon works loosely aboutthe ruling roll and guide 13. The endless ribbon 16 employed isinexpensive and can be readily applied and removed.

The shank 5 may be insertedin any suitable holder other than the socket3 and may therefore be used as a hand ruling device as well as atypewritten attachment. The occasion for the shifting str'ap to engageboth flights of the ribbon is to permit it to run in either directiontoward the roll 8 and thus enable the device or the platen 22 to bemoved in either direction when ruling a line..

lHaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A ruling device comprising a frame, a. roller therein having acircumferential ruling edge, a ribbon guide, and an endless ribbonworking over said guide and about said roller,.substantially asdescribed.

2. A ruling device comprising a frame, a

A pair of ribbon guides thereon, one of said guides beingjournaled inthe frame and provided 'with 'a circumferential ruling edge, an endlessribbon surrounding said guides,

'and means to guide and shift the endless Y ribbon relatively to theruling edge.

3. A ruling device comprising a frame having a yoke, a roller journaledin the yoke, a circumferential ruling edge on the roller, an endlessribbon passing about the roller, and an element parallel withthe rollerand about which the endless ribbon passes, said element being adjustabletoward and from the roller.

4. A typewriter ruling attachment comprising a frame carrying' a rulingroll, an

endless ribbon passing about the roll, and `means to regulate thetension of the ribbon about thev roll, substantially as described.

5. A- typewriter ruling attachment comprising a frame carrying a rulingroll, an endless ribbon passing about the roll, means to regulate'thetension of the ribbon about the roll, and means to-shift the ribbonrelatively to the ruling edge of the roll.

' 6. The combination with the element of a typewriter adapted to carry aruling attachment, of a ruling attachment connected to said element andprovided with a rollerhaving a circumferential ruling edge, saidattachment being adapted to present the ruling edge to the typewriterplaten at the printling site thereon, an endless ribbon passing aroundsaid ruling roll, and means to guide said ribbon.

7. A ruling attachment for typewriters comprising a frame formed of abent rod having a shank at one end, a yoke at the scribed.

8. A ruling attachment for typewriters comprising a frame formed of abent rod having a shank at one end, a yoke at the other end and anintermediate straightbody portion, a ruling roller journaled Yin theyoke, a ribbon guide adjustable along the straight portion of the shank,an endless ribbon passing over the guide and around the roller, andguide means for the ribbon adjacent to the roller, there being a portionof the rod bent at an angle to the yoke and said guide being adjustablealong said bent portion to shift the ribbon, substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof I aliix my signature.

JAMES M. DUDLEY.

Witness:

Norm: WELSH.

